Israeli forces kill four in north Gaza, detain 15 in West Bank

An Israeli airstrike claimed the lives of a man, his wife, and their two young daughters in northern Gaza on Thursday, according to health officials. The victims were aged 8 and 12. The Israeli military has intensified its bombardment of houses over the past two days. The military has not yet commented on the attack in the town of Beit Lahiya.

Following the signing of an October 2025 US-backed ceasefire, large-scale fighting has ceased, yet Israeli strikes persist, and there has been little advancement towards a permanent peace agreement. Hamas blames Israel for breaching the ceasefire and obstructing efforts to implement US President Donald Trump's comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict, which involves the Israeli withdrawal from the strip and the disarmament of Hamas.

Israel, in turn, asserts that Hamas is in violation of the deal. Since the ceasefire's implementation, more than 1,300 Palestinians have died in Gaza, according to the territory's health officials, while the Israeli military claims four of its soldiers have been killed. Hamas typically refrains from disclosing information about casualties among its fighters.

Over the past two days, the Israeli military has targeted at least six homes in the enclave, damaging neighboring houses and shelters and compelling numerous families to evacuate, residents and medics reported. Some house owners or their neighbors received a call from the military instructing them to vacate the area shortly before the missiles struck the buildings, according to residents.

The Israeli military did not explicitly address the strikes on houses but stated on Wednesday that it had targeted three areas across Gaza, dismantling three Hamas weapons storage facilities housing explosive devices, anti-tank missiles, and other equipment. On Tuesday, Israeli security forces dismantled three additional Hamas and Islamic Jihad weapons depots, which were used to store rockets, rifles, and a rocket launch pit, the military added.

On Sunday, the military reported killing three militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, refuted Israeli allegations, claiming that Israel's targets were "the civilians and their homes."